Briton Hopes to Set Land Speed Record
A British pilot will challenge the world land speed record in a car capable of breaking the sound barrier, the current record holder said Friday.
Richard Noble, who took the record to 633 m.p.h. in 1983, said Andy Green will drive Noble’s Thrust SSC supersonic car in an attempt to better that speed in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert in August.
Green, a 32-year-old bachelor who flies Tornado ground-attack aircraft for a living, was chosen from 30 applicants to go for the record.
The $3.15-million car, capable of 850 m.p.h. and powered by two Rolls-Royce jet engines, can accelerate to 600 m.p.h. in 14 seconds.
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